Thanks Loyalty. This is good info. I'll be going over in a few days staying at ASP, and I really want to see first hand whats up with Xpu-Ha.

Thanks for your input above, which is different than what Palace Resorts customer service has told me. What is your relationship with Palace Resorts to explain why you might have more information that other members such as myself who have posted? I've only posted what information has been provided to me by Palace Resorts customer service, and their information has been conflicting several times, which has led to most of the confusion (not 'speculation, rumors, or mis-information') on the posts here. I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just wondering why we are to rely on someone posting on TA instead of from Palace Resorts, when in your own post you admit that most of the things posted here are 'rumors & mis-information'.

Also wondering if you can explain why "members" can't use LeBlanc even if the contract says "In order to obtain lodging services, the Member shall pay the Preferential Rates as listed in effect at any of the Palace Resorts chain and at any other Resorts that may be acquired." (there is no mention of 'different brands' of Palace Resorts in my contract).

I've read through your previous posts and it certainly appears you have inside information on Palace resorts, and you are very pro-Palace, so please clarify for the rest of us your relationship.

Thanks loyalty for the inside information. I too would like to know your relationship with Palace. All of us are well aware that us members get conflicting reports from Palace on many issues, the latest being the use of LeBlanc. It was a so called "special" to be able to use it for '06 and now many of us are holding out for a special again for '07-specificaaly, whether or not we'll be able to use one of our Premier (free) weeks. I've been told 3-4 times that a decision on this will be made by August. Supposedly, the '06 offer was posted on the web site and also mailed to members but guess what? I never saw it on the web site nor did I get a mail alert. I actually first heard about on this forum by the above poster! If you do indeed have some inside pull, how about letting them know, that their members should have access to more and correct information. I'm basically happy with my membership of 6 years but have complained many, many times to Cancun folks just how in effective the Miami office is. They always say "we know, we're working on it"!

Wow, great replies. I can certainly understand your frustration when receiving conflicting information, but honestly, that happens with every resort, hotel out there.

First of all, I cannot begin to postulate on the details of your membership contracts - I am not familiar with them, nor do I have any pull whatsoever.

I can only stress again that the Le Blanc Spa Resort is NOT a Palace Resorts & that is probably what is confusing to you. It does not fall into the category of part of the "chain" of Palace Resorts, although it is owned by them. It was designed to be ultra-luxurious & set apart from the other Palace Resorts...explains why it is not included.

Additionally, I can only assume that the temporary "special" you are referring to was put into place in order to give members a chance to experience

this resort as it was new. Specials are currently in effect until DEC for ANYONE wishing to go to Le Blanc which they can of course obtain through their travel agents or wholesalers.

Whether or not Palace Resorts chooses to include Le Blanc Spa Resort for its members in 07 is certainly up to them. On this matter, I'm guessing you will just have to wait until AUG as they have suggested.

Alas, I prefer to remain anonymous..my only goal is to clear up any misunderstandings anyone might have on the resorts themselves.

Well, thanks I guess for attempting to clear up some of this, although you can understand my skepticism when you won't reveal your relationship and my only real source I can supposedly trust will still be Palace Resorts, even if they constantly change what they tell me. I can only assume you are either part of a ownership group or somehow involved in their administration, and if so I beg of you like the previous post by nanasal to persuade Palace to put some more information on their website under the Members section, so that we don't have to rely on seaching travel forums hoping an 'insider' will post useful information anonymously.

Everything you have posted about Club Maeva and Xpu-Ha makes sense and I hope that's how everything will pan out, as we plan to make a trip to Xpu-Ha in early 2007.

I also understand the stance Palace will take on Le Blanc, even though I still feel 'scammed' because my contract specifically states I will have access to Preferential Rates at 'any other Resorts that may be acquired.' I understand some things about business and to me it would have made more sense if Palace had purchased the Hotel Sierra under a sub-company (not named Palace Resorts, and not releasing press statements that they have purchased another property) to avoid this confusion with current Members. I did not purchase my Membership because of a promise to use Le Blanc, because LeBlanc wasn't even around at that time. However, the sales staff at Aventura in April 2006 IS using LeBlanc as part of their sales pitch, which contradicts your statements that they are separate chains.

Lastly, while it's probably true that 'every resort & hotel offers conflicting information', the only one I care about whether or not they get their story straight is the one I paid a considerable amount for a 'Membership'. Thanks again for your information...I just wish you could be either more revealing in your role with Palace or that you could convince them to address these issues on their Member site...perhaps in a FAQ webpage.

I've already posted this but it fits here too. The new Grand at Moon and the new resort at Punta Cana will also NOT be included in your current membership. Quite a surprise to me last week. It seems that "old memberships" will get to use the "old properties" and any new properties will not be included. Quite a nice business practice don't you think? Can you tell I'm ticked! They tried to get me to upgrade again (already presidential) just to use the RCI plus feature as well as the two new resorts coming in the near future. I love Palace resorts, but someone in charge is making some BAD decisions and word is going to get around and I hope their sales tank because of it.

Interesting, since that would definitely be the opposite of what my contract says. (and once again, during my visit in APR 2006 they also told me I would be able to use our membership at the new one in the Dominican Republic and Moon Palace Grand, now someone else is told different...) Of course, since you (formyjoy) don't claim to be an insider I suppose I shouldn't really believe you - you are only providing 'chuckles' for those in the know.

I'm really curious if it would be worth it for Palace Members to get together & get legal representation about them violating our contracts? I suppose we'll see in the next few years as Palace opens more resorts, if they really keep us from using the new properties...then maybe enough Members would consider taking action. Hopefully it won't come to that and we are all just getting misinformation (as if that's reassuring too).

Good luck with your memberships folks..it sounds like you have many unanswered questions..which I agree..should not be the case. From what I can make out the palace resorts operate on deception..they have lovely hotels and great service...but the owners..are liars..either through blatant misrepresentation or through intentional omissions. I can only speak from my own experineces in talking to people at the palace office..they don't give out the information they should be and that is simply wrong. It would not be a complex task to post honest, factual and detailed information on their web site.

One last time...did ANYONE read ANYTHING in my posts that suggested that I knew for sure exactly how the memberships work?

I believe I stated that I am not familiar with them at all & can state again that I do not know now or ever if Le Blanc Spa Resort will be included, along with any new resorts Palace Resorts has coming up....end of story.

My point, which apparently went awry, was simply to explain the position of Le Blanc Spa Resort in the overall scheme of things.

These forums are just that...a forum for opinions, etc. You can believe or not believe whomever you choose. I think that sometimes these things may tend to get out of hand because each person reads something different into the posts.

You do not have to believe a single word I post either. That being said, I will only post or reply when I find a good question or a completely erroneous statement being made regarding any of the Palace Resorts, & that is only to clear it up.

loyalty - your point is taken. I just don't understand then how you can comment on the position of LeBlanc and the rights of Palace Members to have access there with Preferential rates if you don't know anything about the contracts we have signed (which state we will be able to use all future Resorts purchased by Palace...which is what LeBlanc is). Your messages imply you aren't a member, so I can only assume you work in the organization, and if so, then all we are hearing is yet one more version on this whole matter and it really hasn't helped to clear things up. I'm sorry for wasting your time on this forum, and didn't mean to get you riled up if that's what you meant in your last post.